Door latch



' Sept. 14, 1937. GATES 2,093,317

DOOR LATCH Filed Ju1yi6, 195s Inventor: Archibald B. Gates,

is Attorney.

Patented Sept. I4, 1937 UNITED STATES DOOR LATCH Archibald B. Gates, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application July 6, 1935, Serial No. 30,096 In Canada July 28, 1934 11 Claims. (01. 292455) My invention relates to door latches and moreparticularly to door latches provided with pedal release mechanisms.

In the use of pedal release door latches of the types heretofore proposed, some difficulty has been encountered in that the door swings open as soon as the foot pedal is depressed. This requires a rapid movement on the part of the operator in order to avoid being struck by the opening door.

It is an object of my invention to provide a pedal operated door latch of the type described which will permit the door to open only upon the release of the pedal.

It is another object of my invention to provide a pedal operated door latch for refrigerator cabinets or the like in which an operating pedal, operable in two opposite directions, is arranged to open the door a slight distance upon actuation in one direction and to release the door for full opening movement upon actuation in the opposite direction. g

It is a further object of my invention to provide a pedal operated door latch of the type described which will be simple in construction and may be easily and economically manufactured.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

A better understanding of my invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator provided with a door latch having a pedal release embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the refrigerator shown in Fig. l and illustrates the operating pedal and its mounting on a leg of the refrigerator; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the door latch provided on the refriger ator shown in Fig. 1, the latch bolt and strike being shown in engaged position and with certain parts thereof broken away to show the operation of the release device.

Referring to the drawing, in Fig. l I have shown a refrigerator of the domestic type provided with a cabinet ill having the usual'inner and outer walls made of sheet metal, or the like, with heat insulation therebetween. The cabinet III is provided with an opening I I in the front wall thereof and a door I! is pivotally supported by hinges 13 at the side of the opening IL. The door I2 comprises the usual double walls made of sheet metal, or the like, having heat insulation therebetween.

mountedon' the cabinet and door, respectively, 10

- which are adapted to retain the door It in the closed position when the cc-operating parts are in engagement. Amanual operating handle is provided for disengaging the co-operating parts, and

a pedal operated release mechanism is also pro- 15 vided for disengaging the co-operating parts to open the door. The door latch and pedal operated release mechanism therefor are arranged in such manner that upon operation of the operating pedal, the co-operating parts mounted on the cabinet Ill and the door l2 will be disengaged but the door i2 will be restrained against opening movement until the operating pedal is released by the operator.

The door latch includes a rectangular boxshaped casing l6 made of a die casting, in which an L-shaped latch bolt i1 is pivotally supported on a pin It journaled in the side walls of the casing IS. The latch bolt I! may be operated by a manual operating lever i9, one end of which is pivotally supported in the casing It by a pin 20, which is journaled in the side walls of the casing ii. The manual operating handle I! is connected to the latch bolt ll by a link 2!. The link 2| is pivotally connected to the upper end of the latch bolt i! by a pin 22. A shoulder Isa formed adjacent the upper end of the operating handle l9 engages the recessed portion 2 la of the upper end of the link 2i. The upper end of the link 2| is provided with a slot Zlb in which the pin 20 slides, thus forming a lost motion connection be- 0 tween the operating handle I! and the link 2|.

A helical compression spring 20a having extended ends 2011 and 20c surrounds the pin 20. The lower end 200 of the spring 20a bears against the front wall of the casing i6 and the upper end 20b of the spring bears against the shoulder Illa. of the operating handle 19, thusbiasing the latter to its depressed position. The link 2i is provided with a depending integral lug 23 on which is fitted one end of a helical compression spring 24. The

.lower end of the compression spring 24 is seated on the latch bolt i'l. When the operating handle i9 is moved upwardly about the pin 2|] against the bias of the spring 20a, the link II is moved'downwardly and thelatch bolt I1 is swung upwardly about its pivot I8 against the pressure of the compression spring 24, thus freeing the latch bolt I1 from a strike secured to the wall of the cabinet III by screws 26.

When the door I2 is closed, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the latch =bolt I1 engages the strike 25, thus holding the door l2 in its closed position.

.The strike 25 includes a forwardly extending boxshaped receptacle having an open-top recess in the horizontally extending portion thereof which is adapted to receive the latch bolt I1 in the position illustrated in Fig. 3.

A pedal operated release mechanism is provided to disengage the latch bolt I1 from the strike 25 and includes an operating pedal 21 which is pivotally supported on one of the legs 28 of the cabinet III by a pin 29, as shown in Fig. 2. The operating pedal 21 is connected to an operating arm 30 of the latch by a link 3|. The link 3| is pivotally connected at its lower end to the operating pedal 21 by a pin 32 and is pivotallyconnected at its upper end to its operating arm 30 by a pin 33. The operating arm 36 is pivotally supported in the strike 25 by a pin 34 which is secured to the opposite sidewalls of the strike 25. The operating pedal 21 is biased to its upper position, illustrated in Fig. 2, by a helical compression spring 35 which is secured at its upper end tothe link 3|, having its lower end bearing against the bottom of the cabinet III.

In order to facilitate carrying out its functions, the latch bolt I1 is provided with two cam surfaces,.the lower concave surface 36 and the end convex surface 31. The lower surface 36 isslightly curved inwardly, as shown in Fig. 3, and one of its functions is to coact with the upper edge of the front wall of the strike 25 to force the latch bolt I1 into its retracted position against the bias of the spring 24 during the closing movement of the door I2. The end surface 31 is slightly curved outwardly and serves, under the bias of the spring 24, to holdthe door I2 firmly closed after it has reached its closed position. The surface 36, because of its concave curvature, also permits a slight opening movement of the door I2 as the latch bolt I1 is forced into its retracted position, as will be further described hereinafter.

The function of the operating arm 30 is illustrated in the dotted lines in Fig. 3. As thus shown, when the operating pedal 21 is depressed to its lower position against the bias of the spring 35, the operating arm 30 is moved about its pivot 34 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and thus forces the latch bolt I1 into its retracted position against the bias of the spring 24, and the link 2| is moved upwardly, the movement of the slot 2Ib in the link 2| on the pin 20 preventing movement of the handle I9. During this movement of the latch bolt I1, the reaction between the forward end of theoperating arm 30 and the lower concave'surface 36 of the latch bolt I1 forces the door I2 outwardly in a slight opening movement which movement is permitted by the curvature of the end surface 31 of the latch bolt I1. When the pedal 21 is fully depressed, the latch bolt I1 will have assumed the position illustrated by the dotted lines and the door will have opened slightly, as is indicated by the dotted outline of the casing I6 and handle I9. It is to be noted that in this position the lower surface 36 of the latch bolt I1 is presented to the forward upper edge of the strike 25, so that upon release of the latch bolt I1 by the operating arm 30, the latch bolt I1 is out of latching relation with the recess in the strike 25 and cannot come again into latching engagement with the recess formed in the upper surface of the strike 25, It is further to be noted that in the position of the latch bolt I1, as shown in dotted lines, the rearward part of the surface 36 has a downward slope owing to the curvature thereof and that the forward end of the operating arm 30 now engages the latch bolt I1 on the downward slope of the surface 36. So long as the operating pedal 21 is held in its depressed position, the interaction of the operating arm 30 and the lower surface 36 of the latch bolt I1 prevents further opening of the door I2, the operating arm 30 thus acting as a secondary latch to restrain the door from further opening movement. Release of this secondary latch is'obtained by releasing the operating pedal 21 which allows the operating arm 30 to reassume its normal full line position under the influence of the biasing spring 35. When this occurs, the lower surface 36 of the latch bolt I1 cams over the forward edge of the strike 25 and due to the action of the latch spring 24 and the curvature of the lower surface 36 ofthe latch bolt I1, the door is given an impulse in the opening direction. It will thus be seen that in the first of two successivemovements of the operating pedal 21 to its two positions, the latch bolt I1 is disengaged from the strike 25, the door I2 is given a slight opening movement and the operating arm 30 engages the latch bolt I1 in secondary latching relation. In the second successive release movement of the operating pedal 21, the operating arm 30 disengages the latch bolt I1 and the door I2 is given an impulse by the spring 24 toward its full open position.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention in connection with a refrigerator cabinet, I do not desire my invention to be limited to the construction shown and described, and I intend, in the appended claims, to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A latch for a cabinet doorcomprising a strike, a movable latch bolt engageable in latching relation with said strike, an operating pedal movable in two opposite directions, means re sponsive to movement of said operating pedal in one direction for disengaging said latch bolt from said strike and for moving said latch bolt out of latching relation with said strike and for restraining opening movement of said latch bolt with respect to said strike, said means being responsive to movement of said operating pedal in the other direction for releasing said latch bolt for opening movement with respect to said strike.

2. A latch for a cabinet door comprising a strike having a latching recess therein, a latch bolt engageable with the latching recess in said strike, and means including an operating arm engageable upon movement in one direction with said latch bolt for moving said latch bolt out of engagement and out of latching relation with said latching recess and acting through said latch bolt to restrain opening movement of said latch bolt with respect to said strike, said operating arm being movable in the other direction to release said latch bolt for opening movement with respect to said strike.

3. A latch for a cabinet comprising a strike having a latching recess, a. latch bolt engageable in latching relation with the recess in said strike, said latch bolt having a concave lower surface, means for pivotally supporting said latch bolt for movement in a vertical direction, an operating pedal movable in two opposite directions, and a pivotally supported operating arm connected to said operating pedal and engageable with the concave, lower surface of said latch bolt, said operating arm being actuated upon movement of said operating pedal in one direction to move said latch bolt upwardly out of engagement with the recess in said strike andacting through said latch bolt to restrain said latch bolt in a position out of latching relation with the recess in said strike, said operating arm being movable upon movement of said operating pedal in the other direction to release said latch bolt for opening movement with respect to said strike.

4. A latch for a cabinet provided with a door, said latch comprising cooperating engageable parts mounted in said cabinet and on said door for retaining said door closed, an operating pedal movable in two opposite directions, means re-' sponsive to movement of said operating pedal in one direction for disengaging said co-operating parts and for restraining them out of latching,

relation and for restraining full opening movement of said door, said means being responsive to movement of said operating pedal in the other direction for then releasing said door for full opening movement.

5. A latch for a cabinet provided with a door, said latch comprising a strike mounted on said cabinet having a recess therein, a latch bolt engageable with the recess in said strike for retaining said door closed, means for pivotally supporting said latch bolt on said door, an operating pedal movable in two opposite directions, means including an operating arm engageable with said latch bolt and responsive to movement of said operating pedal in one direction for disengaging said latch bolt from said recess and for causing slight opening movement of said door to move said latch bolt out of latching relation with the recess in said strike and for restraining opening movement of said door, and means responsive to movement of said operating pedal in the other direction for disengaging said operating arm from said latch bolt and for releasing said door for full opening movement.

6. A cabinet provided with a door and a door catch therefor comprising a strike mounted on said cabinet and having a latching recess therein, a latch bolt movable in the vertical direction and engageable with the latching recess in said strike, said latch bolt having a concave lower surface, an operating pedal movable in two opposite directions, means including an operating arm connected to said pedal and engageable with said concave lower surface of said latch bolt for disengaging said latch bolt from the recess in said strike and for providing slight opening movement of said door to move said latch bolt out of latching relation with the recess in said strike and for restraining further opening movement of said door, and means responsive to movement of said operating pedal in the other direction for disengaging said operating arm from said latch bolt and for releasing said door for full opening movement.

'7. A latch for a cabinet provided with a door, said latch comprising a latch bolt mounted on said door, a strike mounted on said cabinet, said latch bolt co-operating with said strike to retain said door closed, an operating pedal successively movable to two positions, means including a spring for biasing said pedal against movement towards one of said positions, and means dependout upon the movement of said pedal to said one position against the bias of said spring for disengaging said latch bolt from said strike to release said door for a slight opening movement, said last mentioned means being dependent upon the movement of said pedal to its other position under the action of said spring for disengaging said latch bolt to provide free opening movement of said door.

8. A latch for a cabinet provided with a door, said latch comprising a latch bolt mounted on said door, a strike mounted on said cabinet, said latch bolt co-operating with said strike to retain said door closed, means including a manual operating handle for disengaging said latch bolt and said strike, an operating pedal successively movable to. two positions, means including a spring for biasing said pedal against said movement toward one of said positions, and means dependent upon the movement of said pedal to said one position against the action of said spring for disengaging said latch bolt from said strike to release said door for a slight opening movement, said last mentioned means being dependent upon the movement of said pedal to its other position under the bias of said spring for disengaging said latch bolt to provide free opening movement of said door.

9. A latch for a cabinet provided with a door, said latch comprising a latch bolt pivotally mounted on said door, said latch bolt being vertically movable and having a lower concave surface, a strike mounted on said cabinet, said strike having a recess in the upper portion thereof adapted to receive said latch bolt, said latch bolt co-operating with the front wall of said recess to retain said door closed, an operating pedal successively movable to two positions, means in cluding a spring biasing said pedal against movement toward one of said positions, and means dependent upon the movement of said pedal to said one position against the bias of said spring for disengaging said latch bolt from said recess in said strike and engaging said concave surface of said latch bolt for slightly opening said door and for retaining said door in said slightly opening position, said last mentioned means being dependent upon the movement of said pedal to its other position under the action of said spring for disengaging said latch bolt to provide free opening movement of said door.

10. A latch for a cabinet provided with a door, said latch comprising a latch bolt pivotally mounted on said door, said latch bolt being vertically movable and having a lower concave surface, a strike mounted on said cabinet, said strike having a recess in the upper portion thereof adapted to receive said latch bolt, means including a spring for biasing said latch bolt to a position engageable with said recess, said latch bolt co-opcrating with the front wall of said recess to retain said door closed, an operating pedal successively movable to two positions, means including a second spring biasing said pedal against movement in one direction, and means dependent upon the movement of said pedal to one position against the bias of said second spring for moving said latch bolt against the bias of said first spring out of said recess in said strike and engaging said concave surface of said latch bolt for slightly opening said door and for retaining said door in said slightly open position, said last mentioned means being dependent upon the movement of said pedal to its other position under the action of said second spring for releasing said latch bolt to cam said concave surface thereof over said front wall of said recess in said strike under the action of said first spring to provide free opening movement of said door.

11. A latch for a cabinet provided with a door, said latch comprising a latch bolt pivotally mounted on said door, said latch bolt being vertically movable and having a lower concave surface, a strike mounted on said cabinet, said strike having a recess in the upper portion thereof to receive said latch bolt, means including a spring for biasing said latch bolt to a position engageable with said recess, said latch bolt cooperating with the front wall of said recess to retain said door closed, means including a manual operating handle for disengaging said latch 20 bolt from said recess in said strike, an operating pedal successively movable to two positions, means including a second spring biasing said pedal against movement in one direction, and means dependent upon the movement of said pedal to one position against the bias of said second spring for moving said latch bolt against the bias of said first spring out of said recess in said strike and engaging said concave surface of said latch bolt for slightly opening said door and for retaining said door in said slightly open position, said last mentioned means being dependent upon the movement of said pedal to its other position under the action of said second spring for releasing said latch bolt to cam said concave surface thereof over said front wall of said recess in said strike under the action of said first spring to provide free opening movement of said door.

ARCHIBALD B. GATES.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,095,517

September 11 1957.

ARCHIBALD B. GATES.

It is hereby certified that error-appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Page 5, first column, lines 51 and 52, claim 6, for the words -"cabinet provided with a door and a door catch therefor" door, said latch;

the Patent Office read latch for a cabinet provided with a and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the aaine may conform to the record of the case in Signed and sealed this 26th day of October, A. D. 1957.

(Seal) Henry Van Arsdale, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

means being dependent upon the movement of said pedal to its other position under the action of said second spring for releasing said latch bolt to cam said concave surface thereof over said front wall of said recess in said strike under the action of said first spring to provide free opening movement of said door.

11. A latch for a cabinet provided with a door, said latch comprising a latch bolt pivotally mounted on said door, said latch bolt being vertically movable and having a lower concave surface, a strike mounted on said cabinet, said strike having a recess in the upper portion thereof to receive said latch bolt, means including a spring for biasing said latch bolt to a position engageable with said recess, said latch bolt cooperating with the front wall of said recess to retain said door closed, means including a manual operating handle for disengaging said latch 20 bolt from said recess in said strike, an operating pedal successively movable to two positions, means including a second spring biasing said pedal against movement in one direction, and means dependent upon the movement of said pedal to one position against the bias of said second spring for moving said latch bolt against the bias of said first spring out of said recess in said strike and engaging said concave surface of said latch bolt for slightly opening said door and for retaining said door in said slightly open position, said last mentioned means being dependent upon the movement of said pedal to its other position under the action of said second spring for releasing said latch bolt to cam said concave surface thereof over said front wall of said recess in said strike under the action of said first spring to provide free opening movement of said door.

ARCHIBALD B. GATES.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,095,517

September 11 1957.

ARCHIBALD B. GATES.

It is hereby certified that error-appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Page 5, first column, lines 51 and 52, claim 6, for the words -"cabinet provided with a door and a door catch therefor" door, said latch;

the Patent Office read latch for a cabinet provided with a and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the aaine may conform to the record of the case in Signed and sealed this 26th day of October, A. D. 1957.

(Seal) Henry Van Arsdale, Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

